Honda will voluntarily recall certain model-year 2012 Accord and Crosstour vehicles in the U.S. to replace a side curtain airbag assembly. An incorrect propellant mixture was prepared when manufacturing the initiator component of the side-curtain airbag inflator. Use of the wrong initiator propellant may result in a failure of the pressurized gas that inflates the side-curtain airbag to be released from the airbag inflator, which in turn would cause non-deployment of the side curtain airbag during a crash. Honda has identified 347 vehicles affected by this problem, and is investigating whether other vehicles also may be equipped with an affected inflator. Honda expects to have all relevant information from its suppliers by February 8, 2012, and will identify any additional affected units by that time. Honda does not expect the total number of affected vehicles to exceed 1,000 units. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this defect, which was identified during internal production testing by a supplier.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage owners of all affected vehicles to take their vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin in early February 2012. In addition to contacting customers by mail, in early February, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicles require inspection by going on-line to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (800) 999-1009, and selecting option 4.